Finger-guard



(No M6661.)

E. W.150TVTBR. v FINGER GUARD.

No. 669,936. Patented 066. 29, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFICE.

EDGAR NV. POTTER, OF ROCHESTER, NET YORK.

FINGER-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,936, dated October 20, 1896. Application tiled August 3l, 1896. Serial No. 604,439. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDGAR W. POTTER, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Finger-Guard, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to pens or pencils, and more particularly to a fingerguard adapted to be placed upon the ferrule of the penholder or end of the pen for the purpose of preventing the fingers coming in contact with the ink or lead of the pencil; and the invention is also adapted for use upon crayons and charcoal, and likewise adapted `for use upon paint and mucilage brushes.

Another object of the invention is to prevent the pen, pencil, or brush from rolling about the desk when laid down and not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guard which can be so adj usted as to act as a stop to prevent the pen being dipped too far into the bottle of ink.

The guard can be made entirely of rubber or of rubber and celluloid, as desired, and when constructed entirely of rubber it can be used as an eraser, if necessary.

With these various objects in view my invention consists, essentially, of a rubber body polygonal in shape and having a central aperture or bore in which is arranged an expanding-spring, the function of said spring being to expand the interior of the bore and contract the edges thereof in order to bind upon the pen, pencil, or brush.

My invention consists also in certain details of construction and novelties of combination, all of which will -be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a view showing my invention applied to a penholder. Fig. 2 is a face view of the guard. Fig. 3 is a sectional view thereof. Fig. 4. is a detail view of the expanding-spring. Fig. 5 is a view showing the invention applied to a pencil or crayon. Fig. 6 shows the manner of using the guard as a stop. Fig. 7 shows a slightly-modified form of construction. Fig. Sis a perspective View showing such modified construction in use.

In practical embodiment of my invention I employ a rubber disk or body A, polygonal in shape and preferably hexagonal, said disk or body being preferably thicker at the center and gradually tapering toward the sides. This rubber disk or bodyA is formed with a central circular opening or aperture B, through which the pen or pencil is adapted to be inserted, and in order to securely hold the guard A upon the pen or pencil I employ a metallic expanding-spring C, which is arranged centrally within the bore B, and is placed therein in a contracted state. As soon, however, as the spring is released after being placed within the bore it expands, thereby expanding the center of the bore and contracting the edges thereof, as shown at D, which edges bind tightlyupon the pen or pencil and securely hold the guard in place. It will thus be seen that the pen or pencil can be used in the usual manner and that it will be impossible for the fingers to come in contact with the pen or with the lead of the pencil. Furthermore, by adjusting the guard at any desired point it will act as a stop to prevent the pen being dipped too low into the ink, as-

most clearly shown in Fig. 6.

In order to readily adjust the guard upon the pen or pencil, it is only necessary to squeeze gently upon the rubber disk or body diametrically upon the opposite point, which action serves to compress the spring slightly, and consequently the central portion of the bore, thereby relievingthe pressure at the edges of the bore, and the guard can then be readily moved backward or forward, as desired.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a slight modiiication, in which E represents a disk or body of celluloid, and F the central collar or thimble of rubber, containing a metallic expanding-spring, the same as shown in Figs. 2 and 8.

It will thus be seen that I provide au iinproved construction of fingenguard which is securely held in place upon the pen or pencil through the medium of a metallic expandingspring, which causes the edges of the bore to bind tightly upon the pen or pencil, and one which can be readily adjusted by simply compressing the guard at diametrically opposite points in sliding said guard back and forth the desired distance.

Having thus described my invention, what IOO I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent, is-

l. As an improved article of manufacture, a finger-guard consisting of a rubber disk or body essentially polygonal in shape, and having a central circular bore or aperture and a metallic expandin g-spring arranged centrally of the bore, substantially as shown and described.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a finger-guard for pens and pencils, and the like, consisting of a rubber disk or body essentially hexagonal in shape, and having` a central circular bore or aperture, said disk or body being thickest at the center and tapering` gradually toward the sides, and a metallic expanding-spring arranged central within the bore adapted to expand the center of said bore and contract the edges, substantially as shown and described.

' EDGAR W. POTTER.

lfitnesses:

I. M. MEYER,

HARRY Oris POOLE. 

